Orrville's Fast Five proves to be way too much for Ashland

ORRVILLE -- The Orrville girls basketball team doesn't quite qualify as the Greatest Show on Turf.

The Red Riders, however, might well be the Fastest Five on the Floor.

The installment of turf at Heartland Field created plenty of excitement this past fall, but the girls basketball team may provide plenty of its own fireworks this winter. The Red Riders rolled past Ashland 72-52 in their Ohio Cardinal Conference opener thanks to a 27-point explosion in the second quarter. Orrville's big offensive night was keyed by a strong rebounding effort as well as 34 points from Hannah Plybon.

While Ashland (4-1, 0-1 OCC) had more size inside with a pair of 5-foot-10 forwards in Alexis Stoops, who had a team-high 24 points, and Mackenzie McFarlin, the Red Riders (2-0, 1-0) nearly doubled up the Arrows on the glass, where they held a 39-22 advantage. Plybon led the team with eight while Shamaya Sims added six.

"When we shoot, we know we're going to miss (some)," said Orrville coach Mark Alberts Sr., "but we want to go after the boards as hard as we can."

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"They have good posts and we knew we had to rebound the ball offensively and defensively," said Plybon. "They outdo us in size, but rebounding was the main key."

Orrville's effort on the glass, combined with a couple transition buckets, helped it close the half on a 21-3 run. Leading 21-20 early in the second quarter, Kristy Workinger nailed a jumper to give Orrville a 23-20 advantage. After Ashland missed a field goal, Plybon came up with a layup. Ashland then turned the ball over on its next possession and Plybon grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it in to make it 27-20.

After a technical foul was called on Ashland coach Jason Snow, Plybon sank a pair of free throws. Both teams missed shots, and Plybon came up with another offensive board and completed an old-fashioned 3-point play. The senior went on to score eight of Orrville's next 10 points, including a 3-pointer from the corner to end the half. Plybon also scored 17 of the Riders' final 21 points as they went into the half ahead 42-24.

The All-Ohio first-teamer is known for her ability to penetrate into the lane, but on Thursday she did much of her damage from the perimeter. Plybon's career scoring total now sits at 1,435 points, 35 behind Stacy Howard, the school's all-time leader with 1,470.

"I've been working on my jumper," said Plybon, whose 34 points were one shy of her career high of 35, set during her sophomore season against Lexington. "They thought I was going to drive it more than I did. When I dribbled, they backed off. I had to read the defense."

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The senior do-everything guard did nearly as much damage on the glass, as her second-chance points helped the Riders pull away before the intermission.

"Their guards rebound well and we didn't do a good job of boxing out," said Snow. "Not rebounding and not being able to get back on defense hurt us and we dug ourselves too big of a hole."

Snow said that while Plybon is a handful to guard, what makes Orrville so tough to defend is a bevy on weapons on the perimeter. Brianne Adcock added nine points and Davault chipped in eight, including a pair of 3-pointers.

"Plybon's so good off the dribble and it's not just stopping her," said Snow. "It's stopping all those shooters."

Orrville's game plan, though, revolves around Plybon.

"She makes it difficult for other teams to guard her," Alberts said of Plybon, who has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Akron next year. "If you put someone smaller and quicker on her, she can go inside. And if you put someone bigger on her, she can go around her."

Plybon, however, isn't the only fleet-footed Rider on the floor. Their defensive pressure forced 14 Ashland turnovers and Alberts expects his defense to set up the offense all season.

"If we can force turnovers or hurried shots, we have the ability to play fast," he said. "If we have a team that plays fast with us, that's to our benefit."

Thursday served as the season premier and, with a deep and talented lineup, the Riders' show should last all year.

Andrew Vogel can be reached at 330-287-1624 or avogel@the-daily-record.com. Follow him on Twitter at @andvogel.